Karaoke

With a military haircut and neat, Oxford shirt, the man on stage looked like a regular guy. He smiled a harmless, regular-guy smile at the crowded bar. But everything changed when the music began. He bounced across the stage on one foot and sang, in a squeaky, inhuman, cartoon voice, "Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul." The television screen next to him flashed lyrics and a video, a peaceful scene of kids and snow. Someone in the bar yelled, "Get off the mike!" A handful of his fans screamed, "Go, Bryant!"

Fourth of July celebrations will be held throughout the Middle Peninsula beginning on Thursday and lasting through the weekend, with events and fireworks displays offered from Gloucester Point to Urbanna. In Mathews, the county may be small, lightly populated and quiet, but it's big on fireworks, with a show planned Thursday night that will run 25 to 30 minutes. "It's shaping up great," said Charles Ingram, a Mathews County supervisor and driving force behind the annual fireworks show.

Bobbie "Wild man" Waldrop had some moves. His lean frame shimmied and jerked across the stage. But he didn't feel like himself. Or The King. "I got pneumonia, so I can't sing that good tonight," explained Waldrop. "I really don't sing like Elvis, but I like to sing his songs." Waldrop didn't look like Elvis, either. Blue jeans and a black T-shirt replaced the sequin-studded jumpsuits. There was no pompadour. And no sneer. In honor of what would've been Elvis Presley's 59th birthday, the Nsect Club hosted Elvis karaoke night Saturday.

Country singer Heather Edwards understands that if you're heading for the Nashville city limits, you're bound to hit a few dead ends. The trick is to keep the engine humming and the wheels on the road. "Dreams are dreams," the Smithfield resident said. "You've got to keep on doing what you have to do to get there." On Saturday, the 31-year-old singer will compete in the Colgate Country Showdown, a national talent search that ends with a televised finale and a $100,000 prize.

Q. What places in this area have karaoke? A. I found 28 venues on the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads that offer karaoke at least one night during the week by searching the Daily Press' Web site. Among them, Marker 20 and Crabbers in Hampton, Mona Korean & Japanese Restaurant in Newport News, Wanna Bs Karaoke Club & Restaurant in Virginia Beach and AJ Gators Sports Bar & Grill in Chesapeake. With apologies to those without Internet access, you can find the others by visiting www.dailypress.

Marty and Pat Weber and Debbie and Bill Sasin experienced more than a little rest and relaxation on their summer vacations this year, they also noticed what they thought to be a very entertaining concept: Karaoke - Sing A Long. It's a simple concept: provide recorded musical accompaniment and lyric sheets to popular tunes, and allow restaurant and lounge patrons to step up behind a microphone and croon their favorite songs. The Webers and Sasins were so impressed by the concept that they decided to see if anyone was offering that type of entertainment on the Peninsula.

"That has got to be the worst singing I've ever heard." - Joe Jackson (1980) Good ol' boys shouldn't try to rap. And, you shouldn't go to Manhattan's for Karaoke night, Saturdays, to prove your singing prowess. Clubbers want to see the guys who do "Frosty the Snowman" complete with interpretive dancing. For the unhip, Karaoke mixes a TV, video laser disc player and a couple of microphones. The videos, which look like they were made by Have Camera, Will Travel, play the instrumentals and show the song's words on the screen.

CHAMBREL Hunt for Easter eggs Chambrel at Williamsburg will host its annual Easter egg hunt at 8 a.m. Saturday. The retirement community is at 3800 Treyburn Drive. Bring a basket to participate in the hunt and enjoy games, face painting, a magic show and prizes. To register, call 220-1839. BOTANICAL GARDEN Explore native plants Donna Ware, a botanist with the College of William and Mary, will give a tour of the native plants section at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Williamsburg Botanical Garden at the corner of Longhill and Centerville roads.

BOWL FOR KIDS' SAKE AT NEWMARKET BOWL NEWPORT NEWS - Lace on your bowling shoes and help benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Peninsula. They will be holding their 11th Annual Bowl for Kids' Sake from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 18 at Newmarket Bowl, and those interested must register as soon as possible. Bowling is free with $50 in pledges, and the money raised will enable the Big Brothers/Big Sisters to help local kids. In addition, participants are eligible to win two USAir tickets, a $500 savings bond or a $100 shopping spree.

CHAMBREL Hunt for Easter eggs Chambrel at Williamsburg will host its annual Easter egg hunt at 8 a.m. Saturday. The retirement community is at 3800 Treyburn Drive. Bring a basket to participate in the hunt and enjoy games, face painting, a magic show and prizes. To register, call 220-1839. BOTANICAL GARDEN Explore native plants Donna Ware, a botanist with the College of William and Mary, will give a tour of the native plants section at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Williamsburg Botanical Garden at the corner of Longhill and Centerville roads.

Q. What places in this area have karaoke? A. I found 28 venues on the Peninsula and South Hampton Roads that offer karaoke at least one night during the week by searching the Daily Press' Web site. Among them, Marker 20 and Crabbers in Hampton, Mona Korean & Japanese Restaurant in Newport News, Wanna Bs Karaoke Club & Restaurant in Virginia Beach and AJ Gators Sports Bar & Grill in Chesapeake. With apologies to those without Internet access, you can find the others by visiting www.dailypress.

It's like "Total Request Live" on MTV: Young guys and girls screaming. Flashing lights. Even crazy commercials. But there's Jesus in this jubilation. On Saturday, the World Outreach Worship Center will hold its second Saturday Night Live at 6:30 p.m. at the Patrick Henry Mall food court. It's not only for teens, organizers said. It's run by teens. Many teen-agers hang out at the mall anyway. But folks from Xtremedge, pronounced "extreme edge," the youth department of World Outreach Worship Center, hope the teens congregating at Patrick Henry will stop by the food court for some hallelujah hilarity.

BOWL FOR KIDS' SAKE AT NEWMARKET BOWL NEWPORT NEWS - Lace on your bowling shoes and help benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Peninsula. They will be holding their 11th Annual Bowl for Kids' Sake from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 18 at Newmarket Bowl, and those interested must register as soon as possible. Bowling is free with $50 in pledges, and the money raised will enable the Big Brothers/Big Sisters to help local kids. In addition, participants are eligible to win two USAir tickets, a $500 savings bond or a $100 shopping spree.

After downing turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and rolls, I was still hungry. My metabolic rate needs to be toned down a bit -it's like shoveling coal into a steam engine. Within seconds my stomach has already transformed its current contents into useful bits of energy that can be transported anywhere in my body - the brain usually being the last stop. It being Turkey Day, I thought it best to stick with the bird theme, so I went to Williamsburg's Rockin' Robin. Upon walking into this '50s theme restaurant/bar I was bewildered and confused.

Bobbie "Wild man" Waldrop had some moves. His lean frame shimmied and jerked across the stage. But he didn't feel like himself. Or The King. "I got pneumonia, so I can't sing that good tonight," explained Waldrop. "I really don't sing like Elvis, but I like to sing his songs." Waldrop didn't look like Elvis, either. Blue jeans and a black T-shirt replaced the sequin-studded jumpsuits. There was no pompadour. And no sneer. In honor of what would've been Elvis Presley's 59th birthday, the Nsect Club hosted Elvis karaoke night Saturday.

With a military haircut and neat, Oxford shirt, the man on stage looked like a regular guy. He smiled a harmless, regular-guy smile at the crowded bar. But everything changed when the music began. He bounced across the stage on one foot and sang, in a squeaky, inhuman, cartoon voice, "Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul." The television screen next to him flashed lyrics and a video, a peaceful scene of kids and snow. Someone in the bar yelled, "Get off the mike!" A handful of his fans screamed, "Go, Bryant!"